Arch Hold
In Arch hold in Scottish Country Dancing the Dancers raise their joined hands as high as possible to allow another Dancer or a Couple to pass between them, under their arms.If the Dancers making the Arch are stationary, as in Cumberland Reel, they Face each other and Take Both hands; if they are moving towards the Dancer(s) who is/are about to go under their Arch, as in Postie's Jig, they Take Nearer hands.
Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, Arch hold, either appears explicitly or is implied; note that for a common term these will be a small selection; for a rare term, these may be all that exist:
Barley Bree
Edzell Arch
Flying Spur
Geneviève's Jig
Gypsy Shawl
Isle Of Skye
Rory O' More
Shepherd's Crook (RSCDS Book 10)
Slàinte Mhath
Summer Assembly
Twa Rogueish E'en
Links To Pages Related To 'Holds'
Hand PositionsBack to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing 'Arch Hold' page